At the ESPCI Paris – PSL and Chimie ParisTech – PSL, research and innovation rely on a rare asset in the academic ecosystem: their mechanical workshops.

Recently shared, these two workshops are now labeled Unité d’Appui et de Recherche (UAR) by the CNRS under the name STAR (Service Technique d’Appui à la Recherche). A shared tool at the service of laboratories, researchers and startups in the PSL Research University ecosystem.

The UAR relies on a digital workshop equipped with numerically controlled machine tools, laser and waterjet cutters, as well as 3D printers. Since 2010, it has also had local workshops inspired by fablabs, training teams to handle certain equipment themselves.

The start-up SenseBioTek, incubated at PC’UP since March 2025, is developing SenseNose, a medical device designed to detect cancer early through body odour analysis. To present their cutting-edge technology at the prestigious CES in Las Vegas, the mechanical workshop was a key partner in their R&D:

🔬 Prototyping & Co-design: The workshop machined the parts according to their plans, and provided its advisory role to optimize the mechanical design and support the electronic design.

🛠️ Physical realization: The team’s know-how made it possible to prototype the aluminum housings of the patented SkinVOCs® device (which samples odors), as well as the central box and its confined enclosure integrating the heating system and nanosensors.

A big thank you to the entire STAR team for their daily support:

👤 Ludovic olanier – Platform Manager
👤 Fabienne Decuq – Laboratory Manager
👤 Samir Mancer – Startup Mechanical Engineer
👤 Lionel Lechoix – technician
as well as Rayan, Fabrice, Kamel and Amaury!

This exceptional team exists thanks to the support of the Institut Carnot IPGG Microfluidique and the PSL hashtag#𝐏𝐔𝐈, two mechanisms that make it possible to recruit and retain talent in the service of research and innovation 🙌

Photo ©credit AgenceOblique / Cyril Marcilhacy